Insulated tape file

ABSTRACT

A fire resistive filing cabinet having a file drawer which carries an insulated inner container for storing easily damageable data storage materials such as microfilm and magnetic tape. The inner insulated container protects the data storage materials from the deleterious effects of heat and moisture which may exist inside a fire resistive filing cabinet which is subjected to fire. The insulated inner container is equipped with a cover which must be closed before the file drawer can be shut. Proper closure of the cover can be positively ascertained before the file drawer is shut.

United States Patent [191 Anderson [ll] 3,826,552 July 30, 1974 INSULATED TAPE FILE [75] Inventor: Clarence A. F. Anderson, Fruitport,

Mich.

[73] Assignee: The Shaw-Walker Company,

Muskegan, Mich.

221 Filed: Jan. 29, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 327,749

[52] US. Cl. 312/214, 312/270 [51] Int. Cl A47b 81/00 [58] Field of Search 312/214, 216, 220-222, 312/270-272, 276, 29], 310, 309; 220/9 F, 9

FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 424,833 5/1967 Switzerland 312/214 Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell Attorney, Agent, or FirmKinzer, Plyer, Dorn & McEachran 5 7 ABSTRACT A fire resistive filing cabinet having a file drawer which carries an insulated inner container for storing easily damageable data storage materials such as microfilm and magnetic tape. The inner insulated container protects the data storage materials from the deleterious effects of heat and moisture which may exist inside a fire resistive filing cabinet which is subjected PATENTED JUL30 i974 SHEU 2 0? 3 INSULATED TAPE FILE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to a fire resistive filing cabinet having an inner insulated container for protecting easily damaged data storage materials such as microfilm and magnetic tape against the deleterious effects of heat and moisture which may exist inside a fire resistive filing cabinet when it is subjected to fire.

An object of this invention is a fire resistive filing cabinet having an inner insulated container with a cover that must be in its closed position relative to the insulated container before the file drawer can be shut.

Another object is a fire resistive filing cabinet having a covered inner insulated container in which the closing and the adequacy of the seal between the inner insulated container and its cover may be readily ascertained.

Another object is an insulated inner container for a fire resistive file cabinet having a manually closeable cover which is not subject to the lack of dependability and uncertainty of operation which is inherent in automatic closing covers of this type.

Another object is an insulated container for a fire resistive cabinet which will fit into a standard or a lateral fire resistive file cabinet without extensive modification of the file cabinet.

Another object is aninsulated inner container for a fire resistive file cabinet having a cover which can be readily moved outside of thefile cabinet for inspection and repairs.

Another object is an insulated inner container for a fire resistive filing cabinet in which the insulating material is a lightweight foamed plastic.

Another object is an insulated inner container for a fire resistive cabinet in which a foamed insulating material may be used because it is protected against mechanical damage.

Another object is an inner insulated container having hollow metal walls arranged so that heat does not flow from the outer to the inner walls over the top of the container.

Other objects may be found in the following specification, claims and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention is shown embodied in an insulated file cabinet 11 of the lateral type but the invention may also I be applied to a conventional insulated file cabinet.

Such a file cabinet includes an insulated casing or housing 13 which may have two or more separate compartments 15 formed therein. While a file cabinet seldom has less than two compartments, it should be understood that this invention may also be useful with a storage unit having only a single compartment. An opening 17 formed in the side of the casing opens into each compartment. A drawer 19 is movable in and out of a compartment on rollers and tracks which may be of conventional construction and for clarity of illustration are not shown in these drawings. The opening 17 into the compartment is closed by a drawer head 21 which may also be of conventional construction.

An insulated inner container 31 is mounted on the drawer 19 and moves with the drawer into and out of the compartment 15. The container includes an insulated cover 33. The container has an inner wall 35 and an outer wall 37, both of which may be formed of sheet metal. The space between the inner and outer walls is filled with an insulating material, preferably a rigid foamed plastic such as foamed polyurethane'39, which is incombustible. The inner and outer sheet metal walls 35 and 37 have edges 41 and 43 respectively which overlap at the top of the insulated container. These overlapping edges are separated by a foamed polyurethane tape 45 which functions as a thermal barrier to prevent the flow of heat from the outer to the inner walls. The insulated container cover 33'also has sheet metal walls 49 and a foamed polyurethane core 51. A silicone rubber gasket 53 is fastened to the cover 33 and engages the top surface of the insulated container when the cover is in its closed position. Handles 54 are mounted on the front wall of the cover.

As is shown most clearly in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, rollers 55 are mounted on the sides of the cover 33. The rollers ride in channel-like tracks 56 which are located inside the compartment 15. The tracks are supported by headed rivets 57 which are fastened to elongated brackets 58. The brackets are fastened to the inside of the file cabinet casing. The rivets extend through vertical slots 59 in the tracks to permit vertical movement of the tracks relative to the brackets. Springs 61 mounted on the brackets 58 bias the channel-like tracks 56 upwardly. The tracks 56 are flared at 63 at the front of the compartment to facilitate entry of the rollers onto the tracks.

A heat shield 65 extends downwardly from the rear portion of the cover 33 and overlaps the top of the insulated container 31. Panels 67 attached to the cover 33 depend downwardly on opposite sides thereof. Inwardly facing channel-like tracks 69 are formed in the panels near the lower edges thereof. These tracks are inclined downwardly from the rear to the front of the cover and are bent slightly at 70. Rollers 71 mounted on inclined strips 73 attached to the side walls of the container 31 are received in the tracks 69. The forward ends of the tracks 69 are flared at 75 to facilitate entry and exit of the rollers 71.

Near the front end of each panel 67, a latch 81 is pivotally attached to a latch bracket 83 which is affixed to the track portion 69 of the panel. A projection 85 formed as part of the bracket 83 limits forward swinging motion of the latch. A notch 86 is formed in each latch near the free end thereof. Latch pins 87 are fastened to the file cabinet casing on opposite sides of the compartment where they can be engaged by the notch portions 86 of the latches 81 when the latches are suspended vertically. Latch lifters and drawer stops 89 are mountedon-each side of the insulated container 31 a near the. front thereof. a

The use, operation and functionof this invention are as follows: e I i I WhiIe an insulated file cabinet is designed to, and does, in fact, satisfactorily protect papers and similar materials against'the effects of fire, it does not offer adequate protectionto data storage materials such as disc packs, tape reels, magnetic cards, microfilm and similar materials that are easily damaged byheat and high humidity, the humidity being caused by the moisture in the insulation of the file cabinet which is driven out by heatLFor'this reason, an inner insulated container 31 is provided which protects these easily damageable materials. lnorder for the inner container to perform its function, it is necessary that its cover 33 be maintained sealed relative to'the inner container when the file drawer 19 is closed. Automatic closing covers have been usedin prior file cabinets, but there is no way to readily determine whether or not the cover of the inner container has in'fact closed when the file drawer is closed. j

The design of theinner insulated container 31 per: mitstheuse of easily da ma geablefoamed plastic insulation 51 by providing sheet metal walls 35 and 37 to pro-. tect the insulation against mechanical injury. The foamed plastic tape 45 prevents the flow of heat be tween the inner and'outer walls to bypass the insulatron.

FIG. 1 shows the file drawer 19 of the insulated file cabinet 11 in its closed position; The cover 33 is also in its closed position relative to the inner insulated container 31, thus protecting the contents of the inner container against the deleterious'effects of heat or moisture which may be created when the file cabinet 11 is subjected to the heat of a fire. The cover is held in its closed position compressing the seal 53 against the top 'of the container 31 by the action of the rollers-71,

which are attached to the inner-container, engaging the inclined tracks 69 which are carried by the panels 67 attached to the cover 33. The cover rollers 55 holdv the tracks56. in their lowered. position against the springs 61. v 1 v FIG. 2'shows the file drawer 19 moved to its openposition,--th'at is, outside of the copartment '15 of the file cabinetll. ltshould be noted that the cover 33 has moved outwardlyv with the file drawer and its supported insulated inner container 31. Also, the cover remains in its closed position relative to the container 31. To obtain access to the contents of the inner container, it is necessary to open the cover 33 and this-is done by sliding the cover 33 back into the compartment 15. As the cover 33 is slid into the compartment 15, the rollers 55 are guided into the tracks 56 by the flared ends 63. As the cover 'moves into the compartment 15,, the latches 81 move free of the latch lifters 89 and drop to vertical positions.

When the cover 33 is pushed back into thecompartment 15 to the position of FIG. 3, the notches 86 of the latches 81 engage latch pins 87, limiting further inward movement of the cover. Counterclockwise movement of the latch8l as viewed in FIG. 3 is prevented by engagement of the latch with the stop 85 of the latch bracket 83. Rotation of the latch 81 on the opposite side of the inner container 31 is restrained in a similar manner. The latches 81 are now held in position where they-canengage the latch lifters anddrawer stops 89.

With thelatches in this position, the drawer-l9 cannot be moved to its closed position becausethe drawer stops 89 will. contact the latches 81 in the manner shown'in phantom in FIG.,3. i v In'order to'close the drawer 19, it is necessary to first pull out the cover 33 and move it to its closed position relative to the insulated container 33. If this is not done, the latches 81 will remain in their suspended positions and will engage the latch pins 87 to block return of the drawer 19 into the compartment 15. When the cover 33 is in its fully closed position relative to the insulated container 81- as shown, for example, in FIG. 2, the latch lifters 89 hold the latches 81 intheir elevated positions'where they cannot engage the latch pins 87.

This invention requires that the cover'33 be in its closed position relative to the inner insulated container 31 before the file drawer 19 can be moved to its closed position. The proper closingof the cover can bepositively ascertained before the file drawer is closed. Further, this invention provides easy access to the cover for inspection of the seal 53 and repair and replacement when necessary.

Whereas the preferred form of this invention has been shown and described, it should be understood that there may be many modifications, alterations and substitutions which may be made without departing from the teachings of this invention. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited'only by the claims attached hereto.

1 claim:

1. An insulated inner container for cabinet including:

' a lower portion having side open top, and Y 1 a removable cover for closing said open top of said lower portion,

said walls of said lower portion having a core of foamed plastic covered by inner and outer layersof sheet metal, said inner and outer layers of sheet metal having portions which overlap at their juncture, and s a thermal barrier positioned between said overlapping portions of said inner and outer layers of sheet metal. to prevent the passage of heat from said outer .layer tosaidinnerlayer. v

2. The insulated inner container of claim 1 further characterized in that said thermal barrier is a foamed urethane tape.

3. The insulated inner container of claim 1 further characterized inthat said inner and outer layers of sheet metal overlap along the top edgeof said lower container'portion.

4. The insulated inner container of claim 1 further characterized in that said removable cover includes a core of foamed plastic covered by inner and outer layers of sheet metal.

5. The insulated container of claim 1 further-characterized in that said removable cover is equipped with a heat resistive gasket which engages the top edge of said a fire resistive file and end walls and an lower container portion when said covercloses the open top of said lower container portion.

6. A fire resistive filing cabinet, including: a fire resistive casing having a compartment with an opening therein, a drawer mounted for movement into and out of said compartment through said opening,

an insulated container carried by said drawer,

a cover for said insulated container movable with said insulated container when in the closed position relative thereto and slidable relative to said insulated container and to said fire resistive casing upon opening and closing relative to said insulated container, and

means to prevent movement of said drawer completely into said compartment until said cover is in the closed position relative to said insulated container.

7. The fire resistive file cabinet of claim 6 further characterized in that:

said means to prevent movement of said drawer completely into said compartment until said cover is in the closed position relative to said insulated container includes a stop means operative to engage said drawer when said cover is in an open position and inoperative to engage said drawer when said cover is in the closed position relative to the insulated container.

8. The fire resistive file cabinet of claim 7 further characterized in that:

characterized in that a lug is mounted on said drawer and engages said latch member when said stop means is operative to prevent closing of said drawer and holds said latch member out of alignment with said latch engaging members when said cover is closed to render said stop means inoperative. 

1. An insulated inner container for a fire resistive file cabinet including: a lower portion having side and end walls and an open top, and a removable cover for closing said open top of said lower portion, said walls of said lower portion having a core of foamed plastic covered by inner and outer layers of sheet metal, said inner and outer layers of sheet metal having portions which overlap at their juncture, and a thermal barrier positioned between said overlapping portions of said inner and outer layers of sheet metal to prevent the passage of heat from said outer layer to said inner layer.
 2. The insulated inner container of claim 1 further characterized in that said thermal barrier is a foamed urethane tape.
 3. The insulated inner container of claim 1 further characterized in that said inner and outer layers of sheet metal overlap along the top edge of said lower container portion.
 4. The insulated inner container of claim 1 further characterized in that said removable cover includes a core of foamed plastic covered by inner and outer layers of sheet metal.
 5. The insulated container of claim 1 further characterized in that said removable cover is equipped with a heat resistive gasket which engages the top edge of said lower container portion when said cover closes the open top of said lower container portion.
 6. A fire resistive filing cabinet, including: a fire resistive casing having a compartment with an opening therein, a drawer mounted for movement into and out of said compartment through said opening, an insulated container carried by said drawer, a cover for said insulated container movable with said insulated container when in the closed position relative thereto and slidable relative to said insulated container and to said fire resistive casing upon opening and closing relative to said insulated container, and means to prevent movement of said drawer completely into said compartment until said cover is in the closed position relative to said insulated container.
 7. The fire resistive file cabinet of claim 6 further characterized in that: said means to prevent movement of said drawer completely into said compartment until said cover is in the closed position relative to said insulated container includes a stop means operative to engage said drawer when said cover is in an open position and inoperative to engage said drawer when said cover is in the closed position relative to the insulated container.
 8. The fire resistive file cabinet of claim 7 further characterized in that: said stop means includes a latch member and a latch engaging member with one of said members mounted on said cover and the other of said members mounted on said casing, said latch member contacting said latch engaging member when said cover is in its open position to render said stop means operative and said latch member being held out of contact with said latch engaging member when said cover is in its closed position to render said stop means inoperative.
 9. The fire resistive filing cabinet of claim 8 further characterized in that a lug is mounted on said drawer and engages said latch member when said stop means is operative to prevent closing of said drawer and holds said latch member out of alignment with said latch engaging members when said cover is closed to render said stop means inoperative. 